“We are thrilled to partner with Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division (NSWC PHD), and the Port of Hueneme on this important initiative for Ventura County’s residents,” shared Dr. Roberto Gonzalez, president of Oxnard College. “Through careful collaboration, we have partnered with the Port and NSWC PHD to train local workers, meet employers’ needs, and provide good-paying careers right here in our community.”
OXNARD — Oxnard College has received a $50,000 grant renewal from the Grammy Award-winning band Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands (AWMH). The award follows an initial grant of $100,000 issued last year and will continue supporting students in the college’s Culinary Arts, Dental Hygiene and Fire Academy programs as the band continues its multimillion-dollar investment in critical workforce programs at community colleges nationwide.
OXNARD — Oxnard College and the Oxnard College Foundation are partnering with researchers at California Lutheran University (CLU) and the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) to host an event on April 17, 2024, marking the publication of the annual U.S. Latino GDP Report. The report documents the economic contributions of the Latino community throughout the United States and identifies Latinos as major drivers of the pandemic recovery. The event will also feature never before released estimates of California’s Latino GDP.
OXNARD — We are pleased to announce that we have selected three (3) finalists for the next President of Oxnard College. We would like to thank the entire College community for your continued interest and support in the process to identify our next President. I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank each member of the Presidential Search Committee for their exceptional insight, dedication, and effort.
Join local unions, organizations and leaders to commemorate the 121st anniversary of the Japanese-Mexican Labor Association (JMLA) Strike. It was the first successful multiracial strike in U.S. history.
CAMARILLO — Moorpark College, Oxnard College, Ventura College and Ventura College East Campus are holding free Cash 4 College workshops to help students apply for funds to help with college costs. Funds can be used for tuition, books, housing, transportation, childcare, computers and more.
In-person workshops are scheduled for February and March. The workshops are free and open to the community; anyone may attend a workshop at any location and can drop in at any time during the events.
“We’re excited to welcome the community to our third annual OC Family Festival,” shared Dr. Oscar Cobian, interim president of Oxnard College. “This yearly tradition invites friends of Oxnard College to visit our beautiful campus for a day of fun and to learn about our award-winning programs. We are also looking forward to helping attendees consider their plans for attending college.”
OXNARD— Oxnard College’s Paralegal Studies Program recently received the prestigious approval of the American Bar Association (ABA). Graduates from ABA-approved programs are highly sought after by legal employers and professional organizations seeking to hire paralegals. The ABA’s approval followed an intensive review and on-site evaluation during the spring semester, with final recognition coming recently from the organization’s House of Delegates, which acted on the recommendation of the group’s Standing Committee on Paralegals.
“Oxnard College’s Paralegal Studies Program is among our region’s finest and most reputable,” shared Dr. Oscar Cobian, interim president of Oxnard College. “We’re proud that our paralegal studies graduates will now be able to proudly point to the American Bar Association’s seal of approval while advancing their careers here in Ventura County and throughout the country.”
OXNARD — Oxnard College celebrated major investments in its arts programs and facilities on Thursday. The campus held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new Art + Design complex, which includes upgraded classrooms, state-of-the-art studios and a myriad of new art supplies to serve students beginning this fall.
The day’s festivities highlighted the contributions of alumni through the dedication of the college’s most recent mural, designed by alumni artists and located in the campus Outdoor Amphitheater. The piece, entitled the Community of Resilience Mural, reflects on the COVID-19 pandemic by honoring those who were lost and celebrating the community’s resilience. The day also included the opening of a new Alumni Art Exhibition in the McNish Gallery of Art set to run through September 27.
OXNARD — Oxnard College has been selected to receive a $100,000 grant from the Grammy Award-winning band Metallica and its foundation, All Within My Hands. The award will support students in the college’s Culinary Arts, Dental Hygiene and Fire Academy programs as the band continues its multimillion-dollar investment in critical workforce programs at community colleges nationwide.
The Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI) was launched in 2019 by Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands (AWMH), in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). The workforce initiative marks its fifth year with an ambitious expansion into new curricula. MSI now directly supports 42 community colleges across 33 states, and by the end of this year, it will have helped over 6,000 students pursuing careers in the trades. To date, Metallica and AWMH have invested over six million dollars in the American workforce through career education programs like those at Oxnard College.
“We’re honored to be recognized by Metallica and are grateful for their commitment to supporting Oxnard College’s impactful career education programs,” shared Dr. Oscar Cobian, Interim President of Oxnard College. “This grant will help provide much-needed technical instruments, tools and safety gear to over 100 of our hardworking students.”
For community colleges, the pandemic stressed the need to expand the ways we serve our community. Unfortunately, that’s especially true here in Oxnard, where families were disproportionately impacted by the effects of COVID-19. That’s why a year ago, the Ventura County Community College District invested $1.5 million to help Oxnard College launch two special initiatives aimed at better serving our community’s non-English speaking families and working adults.
When I was growing up here in Ventura County, my sister and I often served as de facto translators for my parents, helping them navigate English-speaking businesses, public institutions and neighborhoods. Over time, they picked up more of the language — even taking an English class at one point — and were increasingly able to engage with the broader community around them. My parents eventually leveraged this important skill — speaking English — to build small businesses and improve my family’s economic situation.
Meet two women who defied the odds and fought stereotypes, abuse, and bias. Two-time Golden Glove boxing champion and award-winning author Alicia Doyle is joined by path-breaking law enforcement officer Flo Trapani, the subject of Doyle’s new book,The Oath. Discover their inspiring journeys of courage and survival in today’s world, and learn what it takes to tell your story!
Join award-winning spoken word artists Matt Sedillo and David A. Romero as they ask the important questions: what has caused the great migrations from Latin America? How do immigrants and first-generation Latinxs simultaneously embrace and reject previous trends towards assimilation and integration? How has “the Latinx Giant” already affected the outcome of the national elections? Perhaps most importantly, who in America recognizes this shift, and how are they responding: for better, or worse?
The PAB comes alive with incredible acrobatics, energizing African drumming, dancing and gravity-defying stunts! Celebrate Black History Month with this amazing performance of a 2000-year-old cultural tradition from East Africa. This interactive 90-minute show includes human pyramids, dish spinning, stick balance, contortion, juggling, hand to hand balance, pole acts, music, comedy, and much much more. Join us on campus Thursday night!
Moorpark College, Oxnard College, Ventura College and Ventura College East Campus are holding free Cash 4 College workshops to help students apply for funds to help with college costs. Funds can be used for tuition, books, housing, transportation, childcare, computers and more.
In-person workshops are scheduled for Feb. 11 and 25. The workshops are free and open to the community; anyone may attend a workshop on either date and can drop in at any time during the events.
Our changing climate is more than droughts and melting ice – it’s something that impacts our lives in many surprising ways. In this lively talk-show style presentation, we hear from climate scientists, environmental activists, and people living the crisis on the ground. Hosted by our very own Prof. Jim Danza, this event will open your eyes to the personal impact of our changing climate.
Exploring the strength and resilience of women during Revolutionary Mexico, Valentina showcases Ballet Nepantla’s ground-breaking fusion of contemporary ballet with traditional Mexican folklorico.
Oxnard and Ventura colleges in partnership with the Ventura County Community Foundation, Ventura College Foundation, and other sponsors are proud to announce the 8th annual Diversity in Culture Festival, which will take place April 12-13. The festival is dedicated to promoting diversity, health, and wellness in the community and honoring civil rights advances.
The festival planning committee found inspiration for this year’s theme after realizing their own wellness had been neglected in the post-pandemic world. The festival activities will focus on encouraging the community to refocus and reclaim their health through diverse cultural lenses.
The vitality of agriculture, industry, nature, and your own water supply depends on the Santa Clara River. Learn how Ventura County’s river supports nearly everything on the Oxnard Plain and how you can help decide the river’s future…and your own.
Oxnard College will host its second annual Family Festival on Sunday, May 7, 2023 from 12-4 p.m. This family-friendly event is free and open to the community; it will take place in front of the college’s Performing Arts Building and in tandem with the Oxnard College Foundation’s weekly Community Market.
“We’re proud to continue growing this tradition here in Oxnard,” shared Dr. Oscar Cobian, interim president of Oxnard College. “Our annual festival invites friends of Oxnard College to visit our beautiful campus for a day of fun and to learn about our award-winning programs. We hope young children attending the event will also begin thinking about their dreams and goals for attending college.”
The Oxnard College Athletic Alumni Association is hosting its second annual Hall of Fame Gala on Friday, May 26, at the Oxnard College Performing Arts Center. Former athletes, alumni, and the general public are invited to attend the reception and dinner to honor two Oxnard College Athletic Alumni superstars, Randi Walters (2006-2008) and Jeremiah Massey (2001-2003).
Honoree Randi Walters was voted the Western State Conference Player of the Year during her athletic career at Oxnard College and was also named first-team All-Ventura County. During her time at Oxnard College, Walters also played on the college’s inaugural softball team. She was later recruited to play soccer at the University of Hawaii-Hilo for her sophomore and junior years, where she was second team All PacWest conference selection. Walters then transferred to Colorado State University-Pueblo, where she was voted MVP by her teammates.
Oxnard College has received a $3 million federal Title V grant to boost enrollment and provide support for equitable student outcomes among Latino and low-income students as they pursue their college and transfer goals.
Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) throughout the country applied for the competitive grant, which will be distributed over a five-year period. The grant is directed by the U.S. Department of Education’s Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program (DHSI).
“Over the last decade, the U.S. Department of Education has placed its faith in Oxnard College by awarding our institution seven competitive grants totaling nearly $30 million to better serve our community’s Latino and underrepresented students,” shared Oxnard College’s Acting President Oscar Cobian. “This most recent grant will transform our students’ lives by helping them thrive academically and transfer to four-year institutions.”
Oxnard College welcomed Oracio Galindo, head of employee experience for the Los Angeles Rams, for a student event hosted on Nov. 8. Galindo showed attendees the team’s 2022 Vince Lombardi Trophy and led a student workshop outlining various career pathways, paid internships and employment opportunities with the Rams organization and their Agoura Hills corporate office.
The event aligned with National First-Generation College Celebration Day, the anniversary of President Lyndon Johnson signing the Higher Education Act of 1965 into law.
The excitement was palpable and the cheers enthusiastic as 5,286 students from Moorpark College, Oxnard College and Ventura College received their associate degrees and certificates at last week’s commencement ceremonies. Held at each college on May 19 or 20, these were the first in-person commencements since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Across the Ventura County Community College District, the class of 2022 earned 7,443 associate degrees and 4,286 certificates. Students often earn multiple degrees and certificates, which they will take with them as they transfer to four-year colleges or universities or launch their careers.
“Whether you’re graduating as a Moorpark College Raider, Oxnard College Condor or Ventura College Pirate, your dedication and hard work has helped you achieve this accomplishment. On behalf of VCCCD faculty, classified staff and administrators, thank you for your commitment to your education,” said Chancellor Greg Gillespie. “We appreciated the opportunity to support you throughout your educational journey,”
Oxnard College will host an event of support for the Ukrainian people from 12:30-1:30 p.m., March 17. The event is open to the public and will include remarks from Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko and faculty presentations on the historical background of the crisis unfolding in Eastern Europe.
Attendees will be encouraged to make tax-deductible donations to the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund, a refugee organization with ties to theUnited Nations and humanitarian partners, before the ceremony concludes with raising the Ukrainian flag. The flag will fly throughout March.
“One of our chief goals at Oxnard College is to foster civic engagement among our students and prepare them to take their place as active champions for world peace and liberty,” said Luis Sanchez, president of Oxnard College. “The violence in Ukraine threatens human rights and freedom everywhere, imperiling the future our students will inherit.”
Moorpark College, Oxnard College, Ventura College and Ventura College East Campus are holding free Cash 4 College workshops to help students apply for funds to use for college. Workshops are scheduled for Feb. 12 and Feb. 26 and will be by Zoom. Students can drop in anytime during the workshops.
Bilingual financial aid staff will assist students in completing applications for the 2022-2023 school-year FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or the California Dream Act Application (CADAA). The workshops are open to the community; anyone may attend a workshop on either date. Advance registration is preferred.
Join us for this special evening of classical dance from India! Performed by acclaimed dancer Vijayalakshmi, Mohiniyattam is a traditional dance form rooted in the feminine spirit and resonating with contemporary relevance. Experience the beauty and be inspired by the divine enchantress!
Vijayalakshmi is a world-renowned Indian classical dancer, choreographer, actress and singer. Founder of the Mohiniyattam Institute, she is a leading exponent of this ancient dance form of South India.
This moving series gives the stage to OC students to speak their own truths through the stories of their lives. This year, we feature four dynamic OC graduating students Reina Gallardos, Carina Rios, Viviana Cardenas, and Melanie Jean Burke who all share their stories of resilience and fortitude in achieving their educational goals during this toughest year. These inspiring OC grads help us see how we can adopt the same hope and commitment in our lives! WEspeak is guided and directed by OC English Professor José Maldonado and OC ASL Professor Emily Zwaal.
Oxnard College will welcome families on campus for a day of festivities and fun at its inaugural Family Festival on May 1. This family-friendly event from noon – 3 p.m. is free and open to the community. It will take place in front of the college’s Performing Arts Building and will be hosted in tandem with the Oxnard College Foundation’s weekly Community Market.
“We hope to grow this event into an annual tradition so that young children can begin thinking about college from an early age and so our community can learn about Oxnard College’s award-winning programs,” said Luis Sanchez, president of Oxnard College.
Ms. Rex’s award-winning work with students and communities helps them find their voice in challenging times. Join us for a lively evening sure to inspire and motivate. Encourage students, friends, family to come together again as OC LIVE!
Signing Black in America is the second film in the Talking Black in America documentary project. It features the pioneering research on Black ASL by Dr. Joseph Hill (Rochester Institute of Technology), who will join us by zoom to discuss the film and his work. Join us for this fascinating exploration at the cutting edge of ASL research!
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Flamenco! The passionate strumming of guitars, the thundering rhythms created by dancers’ feet striking the stage – this is Flamenco in its pure essence. Bring your flowers, fans and castanets and get ready to yell Olé! as Wendy Castellanos-Wolf and the rest of Flamenco805 set the stage on fire with their entrancing movements and heart-wrenching expression.
The Campaign for College Opportunity named Oxnard College a 2021 Equity Champion of Higher Education for its Excellence in Transfer for Latino students through Associate Degrees for Transfer (ADT). Oxnard College, which has a predominantly Latino student body, offers 31 ADT programs covering a wide range of subject areas. These programs meet minimum eligibility requirements for admission to a California State University and guarantee students’ acceptance.
The college’s Latino students obtain ADTs at a rate 2.3% higher than the campus-wide average, reported the California-based nonprofit that advocates for equity in higher education.
“Oxnard College’s efforts to increase transfer rates among Latino students will help lift a generation of families into Ventura County’s middle class,” said Oscar Cobian, vice president of student development. “We’re committed to providing the transfer services and resources our students need to achieve their educational aspirations.”
The college has been a Hispanic-Serving Institution since its inception in 1975. In 2020, it received a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to increase equitable student outcomes among Latino and low-income students as they pursue their career and transfer goals.
Learn English in person and online at Oxnard College. Registration for ESL classes is now open for the spring 2022 semester at Oxnard College. Credit and non-credit classes start January 17 and will be delivered in person and online with flexible morning and evening schedules. There is no enrollment fee for non-credit classes.
Oxnard College offers free use of textbooks, access to Zoom and tutoring for classes. There are also laptops and Wi-Fi hotspots available to lend to students who need them on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Ventura County’s community colleges are among 150 institutions nationwide eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura colleges are now eligible for the 2023 prize, known as the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance among America’s community colleges. It recognizes colleges with robust student outcomes in equity, teaching and learning, certificate and degree completion, transfer rates and bachelor’s degree attainment and workforce success.
Only 15% of the approximately 1,000 community colleges the Aspen Institute eval uates across the U.S. are selected to contend for the esteemed honor. This is the first time that all three Ventura County Community College District colleges have been eligible for the Aspen Prize at the same time. Ventura College was previously eligible in 2017, 2019 and 2021; and Moorpark College in 2019.
Join us on September 23 at 6:00 PM in our Zoom Room for a very special online performance in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.
Core Ensemble’s mesmerizing Tres Vidas is a musical theatre work celebrating the life and work of three pioneering Latin American women – Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, Salvadoran peasant activist Rufina Amaya and Argentine poet Alfonsina Storni.
Aprenda inglés en persona o en casa con clases virtuales de Oxnard College. Inscripciones para las clases de inglés como segundo idioma están abiertas para el semestre del otoño 2021 en Oxnard College. Clases de crédito y sin crédito comienzan el 23 de agosto y se impartirán en línea y en persona con horarios flexibles por la mañana y por la tarde.
Oxnard College ofrece uso gratuito de textos, acceso a Zoom y tutoría para las clases. También habrá cierto número de computadoras portátiles disponibles para prestar a estudiantes que las necesitan.
Oxnard College is reopening its Child Development Center on Aug. 16 after undergoing renovations, expanding its hours and adopting a new curriculum. The Oxnard College “Little Condors” Child Development Center will serve preschoolers Monday through Friday, year-round, helping bridge a gap in Ventura County childcare services and providing much-needed support for family care needs.
Part-day and full-day childcare services are available to families in the community, while scholarships and priority are reserved for Oxnard College students. The Center’s new curriculum will provide an innovative focus on dual language learners, outdoor learning and play, and STEAM experiences (i.e., science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics).
Oxnard College and Downtown Oxnard have partnered to feature this year’s graduates on custom banners hung throughout the city’s streets. Oxnard College’s Associated Student Government (ASG) spearheaded this initiative to recognize graduates who have come through an unprecedented year of challenges. A total of 1,052 students graduated from Oxnard College for the 2020-21 school year. Nearly 150 graduates volunteered to be featured on banners hanging from lampposts throughout the Plaza in Downtown Oxnard and along both Oxnard Boulevard and Saviers Road. The eye-catching banners will be on display through September, and include a photo of the student, their name and college if they are transferring.
“We thank Downtown Oxnard for helping us celebrate our class of 2021, which has proven to be among the most resilient cohorts of students we have seen,” said Luis Sanchez, Oxnard College president. “Our graduates have overcome economic and personal devastation wrought by the pandemic in order to achieve their academic goals and pursue better lives. We expect great things from the class of 2021 in the years to come and know they will make our community proud.”
In honor of Pride Month, Oxnard College became Ventura County’s first higher-education institution to raise the LGBTQ+ Progress Pride flag over its campus. The flag-raising ceremony took place on June 1 and was in collaboration with the Diversity Collective, Ventura County’s LGBTQ Oxnard chapter. The flag will fly through June.
“If America stands for anything, it stands for the ideal of liberty and justice for all,” shared Luis Sanchez, president of Oxnard College. “Oxnard College welcomes students from all backgrounds and identities, and we proudly raise the Pride flag above our campus as a symbol of our commitment to equality for all human beings and a celebration of our LGBTQ+ community.”
Not even a pandemic could stop this year’s graduates of Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura colleges from pursuing—and achieving—their educational goals. In recognition of what these resilient students have accomplished, the Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD) leadership collaborated with its three colleges to celebrate the 5,370 students in the class of 2021 who have earned their degrees or certificates.
Festive Drive-Thru Graduations were held on May 20 at each college’s campus and Ventura College East Campus in Santa Paula.
“We are always proud of our graduates and all that they accomplish, but this year’s graduates hold a special honor for their persistence in completing their education when most of their classes were remote,” said Chancellor Greg Gillespie. “As these students become VCCCD alumni, they are well-prepared for their next steps of a career or transferring to a four-year college or university.”
This year we feature three dynamic OC graduating students – Karla Ramirez, Freddy Cardenas, and Associated Student Government President Lorena Ortiz – who share their stories of resilience and fortitude in achieving their educational goals during this toughest year. These inspiring OC grads help us see how we can adopt the same hope and commitment in our lives!
WEspeak is guided and directed by OC English Professor Jose Maldonado and OC ASL Professor Emily Zwaal. This episode was filmed live on campus April 29, 2021!
In this episode we revisit WEspeak spring 2019 with an inspirational speech given by Oxnard College student, Crystal Harris, live on stage. With the theme of “moving forward,” Crystal joins Oxnard College Communication Studies Professor Dr. Amy Edwards, Film Professor Anitra N. Lawson and Oxnard College Student Health Coordinator Dr. Deanna McFadden for a powerful conversation about protecting mental and emotional health, fighting to overcome trauma, and living your best life!
Ventura County Community College District board of trustees fully supports and is dedicated to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) for its approximately 31,000 students, nearly 1,900 employees and the community. In support of the diverse population of students at Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura colleges, and the community, the board adopted a resolution Affirming the District’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at its April meeting.
The resolution is in tandem with the District’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Week and the California Community Colleges’ Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Awareness Month.
“VCCCD is a welcoming and inclusive equity-minded, anti-racist learning environment where diverse students are supported to pursue and attain student success,” said Trustee Gabriela Torres. “Our mission is to foster social justice and an inclusive, equity-minded learning environment where all students receive support to achieve academic success and attain the necessary skills to find meaningful work that offers them a living wage.”
The Ventura County Community College District board of trustees announces that Dr. Julius Sokenu has been named the president of Moorpark College, pending contract approval. Sokenu has served as the interim president since 2019 and has been with the college for 14 years.
“Dr. Sokenu is a visionary leader who supports the college’s approximately 14,000 students and the faculty and staff,” said Chancellor Greg Gillespie. “During his tenure as the interim president, he expanded and supported institutional priorities related to equity and diversity, specifically for services to underserved populations.”
Addressing systemic racism and discrimination, and building a more inclusive and equitable culture are top priorities of the Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD) board of trustees, the District, and Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura colleges. As part of this important work, the VCCCD is presenting its inaugural Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Week, April 12-15. It will feature free virtual events, open to students and the community, designed to be thought-provoking, engaging and entertaining. The week is in tandem with the California Community Colleges’ Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Awareness Month.
“Diversity, equity and inclusion permeate all aspects of the District, from student services to hiring,” said Board Vice Chair Dianne McKay. “The communities we serve expect us to be leaders in DEI. We depend on everyone?—students, faculty, classified employees and administrators—to maintain a culturally informed environment in which accountability, growth and mindfulness are of the utmost importance.”
With his trademark “Ask Me” button showcasing his helpful attitude, Ventura College’s Alwin Sauers Jr. has been named the 2021 Ventura County Community College District Classified Employee of the Year. The VCCCD bestows this honor in accordance with the California Community Colleges (CCC) Board of Governors, who will now consider Sauers for the CCC statewide award. The award recognizes classified professionals who positively influence countless lives by showing the utmost commitment to our community colleges, by upholding professional ethics and standards and by serving the community with purpose and passion. They embody the best of California’s community colleges.
Fellow VCCCD Classified Employee of the Year nominees included Thomas “Tommy” Arellano of Moorpark College, and Gabriela Rodriguez of Oxnard College.
The Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD) board of trustees has selected Matt Escobedo, assistant human resources director at the County of Ventura, to become a member of the Personnel Commission. Escobedo will serve a three-year term on the three-member commission, which is charged with ensuring fair and objective treatment of classified applicants and employees in all aspects of personnel administration.
Escobedo has over 15 years of progressively responsible public-sector human resources management experience, which includes working for the Los Angeles Unified School District, VCCCD, City of Santa Monica and County of Ventura.
In celebration of Women’s History Month, Dr. Connie Sheu joins Oxnard College Music Professor Scott Wolf in a lively discussion about gender and equity in the classical guitar world.
On the faculty at the Colburn School of Music in Los Angeles and General Manager of the Guitar Foundation of America, Dr. Sheu brings her own considerable experience as a professional educator and musician. She also shares her recent work recording women composers on the classical guitar, including pieces by Emilia Giuliani and Dale Kavanagh.
Listen to this Spanish-language interview with Katie Pena, director of TRIO programs at Oxnard College, and Luis Garcia, student services assistant, as they talk about TRIO programs, which provide services for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The interview aired on 102.1 FM y 910 AM La Mexicana (KOXR), 96.7 FM La Mejor (KLJR), and 102.9 FM Radio Lazer (KXLM).
In this special episode, OC Business Professor Tim Fontenette hosts a panel discussion on the history, meaning and legacy of Black History Month. This iconic celebration is a staple of the educational and cultural calendar – what has its impact been and should we re-imagine it for the 21st century?
Joining Prof. Fontenette are OC Personal Growth Professor and Counselor Ross Fontes, OC History Professor Josh Leiser, and special guest Perry Martin, Jr., Business Professor at Moorpark College.
The Ventura County Community College District is deeply troubled by the behavior seen in a video posted on social media by students on Feb. 18, showing an interaction between a student who is hard-of-hearing and an Oxnard College faculty member.
“The Ventura County Community College District is opposed to any language or behavior which is offensive or harmful to anyone based on gender, ethnicity, religion, sex orientation, age or disability,” stated Board Chair Joshua Chancer. “Comments in the video do not reflect the District’s values of integrity and honesty in action and word, respect and the constant pursuit of excellence.”
When the COVID-19 pandemic required Ventura County Community College District’s employees to transition to remote work in March, the District’s information technology team faced a challenge. They needed to provide over 500 employees with an immediate, reliable secure process for accessing their core applications and files. A transition process that historically would take six to 10 weeks, the IT team did in 10 days. They accomplished this feat by evaluating, selecting and implementing Amazon AppStream 2.0, a fully managed application and desktop streaming service built on Amazon Web Services.
Oxnard College’s Fire Academy won the prestigious 2021 Bellwether Award on Tuesday, Jan. 26, for its Project RECOVER, which established the state’s first-ever hybrid format for firefighting instruction and helped sustain the state’s much-needed pipeline of firefighters. The Fire Academy received the highly competitive, national recognition after beating out nine other finalists in the award’s Workforce Development category.
Each year, the Bellwether College Consortium of award-winning colleges recognizes cutting-edge and trendsetting programs at institutions throughout the nation. Finalists participated in a rigorous two-round competitive process by peers that culminated at the virtual Community College Futures Assembly.
Jonesin’ for a little OC student jammin’? Hungry for some home-grown creative talent? We know how you feel! And that’s why we’re bringing back this encore presentation of the Visual and Performing Arts Student Showcase.
Relive the pre-pandemic glory days with some all-star student work in Communication Studies, Music, Art, Film, and Dance! And stick around for a conversation with two stars of the show, Adan Nevarez and Jullianne De La Cruz. Find out how these OC students have kept heart and soul together during one of the most challenging years ever!
Moorpark College is pleased to announce the selection of Matthew (Matt) Crater as its new athletic director. Crater comes to Moorpark College from College of the Canyons after serving as an athletic support coordinator, assistant head football coach and kinesiology instructor. Crater replaces longtime athletic director Vance Manakas, who recently retired after nearly 40 years.
Join us on September 23 at 6:00 PM in our Zoom Room for a very special online performance in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.
Core Ensemble’s mesmerizing Tres Vidas is a musical theatre work celebrating the life and work of three pioneering Latin American women – Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, Salvadoran peasant activist Rufina Amaya and Argentine poet Alfonsina Storni.
Written by Chilean poet Marjorie Agosin, Tres Vidas offers powerful portrayals of each woman and includes the singing of traditional Mexican folk songs as well as Argentinean popular and tango songs made famous by Mercedes Sosa and Carlos Gardel. Additional music by Astor Piazzolla, Orlando Garcia, Pablo Ortiz, Alice Gomez, Carlos Sanchez-Gutierrez, Michael DeMurga and Osvaldo Golijov round out the musical score.
To help students overcome the challenge of paying for college, Moorpark College, Oxnard College and Ventura College East Campus are holding free Cash 4 College workshops. Workshops are scheduled for Oct. 23, and will be in-person or by Zoom, depending on the campus (details below). Students can drop in anytime during the workshops and attend any campus workshop.
Bilingual financial aid staff will assist students in completing applications for the 2022-2023 school-year FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or the California Dream Act Application (CADAA). The workshops are free and open to the community; people may attend a workshop on either date and at any campus. Advance registration is preferred.
It’s time to love life and laugh again! Join OC LIVE’s popular annual comedy showcase with Jason Love (America’s Got Talent, Sirius XM) and an all-star cast of stand-up comedians. It’s always a good time when Jason brings Hollywood to Oxnard!
This year’s amazing and hilarious cast includes Sean Hamrin (It’s Complicated), Danny Jolles (My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), Samantha Hale (Laughs on Fox, iHeart Radio) and Omar Covarrubias (House of Blues, Hermosa Comedy & Magic).
Please join the City of Oxnard, Oxnard College and the West Ventura County Business Alliance for a FREE job fair event at Oxnard College on Friday, November 19, 2021 from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Stan Mantooth was installed as a Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD) trustee at the District’s Annual Organizational Meeting on Dec. 15. Trustee Bernardo M. Perez, who has represented Area 4 since 2010, was installed for another four-year term. The board of trustees also elected Joshua Chancer as chair, Dianne B. McKay as vice chair and VCCCD Chancellor Greg Gillespie as secretary.
The Bellwether College Consortium named Oxnard College’s Dental Hygiene and Fire Fighter I/II Academy programs as 2021 Bellwether Award finalists. The college is one of 30 nationwide eligible for the award, which is a highly competitive and nationally recognized award focusing on cutting-edge, trendsetting programs worthy of replication.
Oxnard College is the only college in California to have two programs selected as Top 10 finalists. The Dental Hygiene program was honored in the category of Instructional Programs and Services; the Fire Fighter Academy in the Workforce Development category.
Learn English form home with online classes at Oxnard College. Registration for ESL classes are open for the spring 2021 semester at Oxnard College. Credit and non-credit classes start January 18 and will be delivered online with flexible morning and afternoon schedules.
Instructors will contact each enrolled student to provide instructions on the program used for online classes.
This week we go virtual and get real with WeSpeak, the program where students speak their own truth through the stories of their lives. Click below to hear from OC alumnus Vance Garcia, who brought us his incredibly inspiring story about rising above life’s most challenging circumstances.
Oxnard College has received a $1,265,160 grant over five years from the U.S. Department of Education to support its TRIO Student Support Services program. TRIO programs are especially important to Oxnard College because they support the large number of first-generation and low-income college students who require additional services to help them stay in school, graduate and transfer to four-year universities. Through the federal grant, the college will serve 140 students annually over five years.
Congressperson Julia Brownley’s office notified Oxnard College in early August that it had earned a perfect score on its application, beating out strong competition for the grant.
